The snowstorm of March 7 to 15, 2010

The Regional Snowfall Index is NOAA’s ranking of snowstorms east of the Rockies by how much snow fell, over how wide an area and on how many people, region by region: the area and the population above four snowfall thresholds set for each region, weighted against that region’s own history. A storm is scored in each region it reached, on a scale from 1, notable, to 5, extreme.

Events

102

Deaths

2

Injuries

1

Damage

$20,000

Episodes

19

Every winter weather episode the Weather Service filed east of the Rockies in these dates. A few may belong to another system on the same days. Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

• Heavy Snow in Arizona, March 7 to 8, 20102 eventsAn area of low pressure moved across Southeast Arizona during the afternoon of March 7th and into March 8th. This produced valley rain and mountain snow above 5000 feet.
• Heavy Snow in New Mexico, March 8 to 9, 20105 eventsA potent upper level storm moved into southern California, passed just south of Las Vegas, then crossed central Arizona and New Mexico.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Alaska, March 8 to 9, 201065 kt wind · 9 eventsAn intense storm moved into the Gulf of Alaska March 8th resulting in heavy snow and blizzard conditions from Southwest Alaska to Prince William Sound and inland into the Copper River Basin.
• Winter Storm in Utah, March 9, 20101 eventA fast-moving Pacific storm moved through central and southern Utah on March 9th, with only the southern mountains of Utah receiving heavy snowfall.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, March 9 to 10, 20102 eventsA slow moving storm system brought heavy snow to portions of Shannon and Bennett Counties in southwestern South Dakota. Rainfall changed to snow during the early morning of the 9th, with the heavy snow continuing through the early morning of the 10th.
• Winter Weather in South Dakota, March 9 to 11, 20109 eventsA slow moving storm system brought a prolonged period of snow to northwestern South Dakota. Snowfall totals over a two day period ranged from four to eight inches, with locally higher amounts over the northern Black Hills and far northwestern South Dakota.
• Winter Weather in North Dakota, March 9 to 11, 201017 eventsA large low pressure system, moving slowly across the Northern Plains, brought a prolonged period of snow, rain, and freezing rain to much of west and central North Dakota from Tuesday, March 9th through Thursday, March 11th.
• Heavy Snow in New Mexico, March 9 to 11, 201014 eventsTwo quick hitting storms crossed New Mexico, the first one arrived late on the 9th and the second one early on the 11th. Temperatures were cold enough for mostly snow to fall, with widespread light to moderate amounts across western and northern portions of the state.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Alaska, March 10, 20102 eventsA potent low pressure system moved into the north central Gulf of Alaska on the 10th resulting in blizzard conditions on the Alaska Peninsula and heavy snow on the southern Kenai Peninsula.
• Heavy Snow in Texas, March 10, 20101 eventAn upper low pressure system and strong cold front moved across the Texas Panhandle during the day. Heavy snow fell across the extreme northwest Texas Panhandle. No damage or injuries were reported.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in Washington, March 11, 201050 kt wind · 2 eventsBrief high wind in the Admiralty Inlet area. Heavy snow in the central Cascades.
• Winter Weather in Texas, March 11, 20102 eventsSnowfall on the morning of the 11th resulted in light accumulations over portions of the central South Plains. Although only a dusting of snow was experienced at most locations, 1 inch accumulations were observed in Littlefield (Lamb County) and Plainview (Hale County).
• Blizzard in Alaska, March 11 to 12, 20102 eventsAn intense storm moved into the central Aleutians on March 11th producing blizzard conditions over the western and central Aleutians.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in Alaska, March 12 to 14, 201065 kt wind · 7 eventsWarm moist air aloft moved over the cooler temperatures in SE Alaska on 3/12 which caused heavy snowfall for most of the northern sections. This snow was followed by a rapidly developing storm moving up from the SW over the Gulf of Alaska on 3/12 and 3/13.
• Heavy Snow in California, March 12 to 13, 20102 eventsHeavy snow fell at elevations above 5000 feet. Snow amounts up to 15 inches were measured at ski resorts in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains. This along with gusty winds caused significant travel difficulties on mountain roads.
• Blizzard in Alaska, March 13 to 14, 20101 eventAn intense storm in the Gulf of Alaska produced strong northwest wind and snow over the western Alaska Peninsula resulting in blizzard conditions from King Cove west.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in New York, March 13 to 14, 20101 death · 1 injured · $20,000 · 52 kt wind · 4 eventsA low pressure system developed over the mid Atlantic region Friday night, March 12th, then moved very gradually northward to the Delmarva region over the weekend. A very strong low level jet developed to the north of the low and tapped abundant moisture.
• Blizzard in Alaska, March 14, 20101 eventAn intense storm in the Gulf of Alaska produced snow and string wind through Thompson Pass resulting in blizzard conditions.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Mexico, March 14 to 15, 20101 death · 19 eventsA strong closed upper low pressure system slid south across western New Mexico while dragging a strong back door cold front across the eastern plains.

The snowstorm of March 3 to 7, 2010The snowstorm of March 11 to 15, 2010Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

NOAA NCEI Regional Snowfall Index, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.